Steering-gbar



M. 0. DAHLEN.

STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1919- 1,332, 1 61 Patented Feb. 24, 192E).

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MM wlzym ATTORNEY.

MARTIN 01mm DAfiLEN, or Lniwenim, sns'm'rcnnwnn, CANADA.

summits-stem j Patented- FbQ2 4, 1920.

Application and my a, 1919. Serial No. 308,593.

T 0 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, MARTIN OLiVER DAH- LEN, a citizen of Canada, residing at Langham, in the Province of Saskatchewan and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steering-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steering gears, and contemplates a construction eliminating the crank usually employed as a part of the connection between the steering rod and the tie rod, the object being to minimize the strain on the steering mechanism. I

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of the specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sliding bar.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates the steering rod which has associated with its lower end a transversely disposed tubular member constituting a bearing for the slidin bar 11.. The intermediate portion of the ar is of rectangular formation in cross section, and each of the four sides of this portion is provided with rack teeth 12 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The opposite end portions of the bar are of cylindrical formation in cross section and are adapted to project an appreciable distance beyond the opposite ends of the bearing member. Carried by the steering rod 10 adjacent the lower end thereof is a pinion 13 disposed to mesh with the rack surface 12 of the bar 11, and manifestly the sliding movement of the bar is under the control of the steering rod 10.

The bearing for the sliding bar 11 ispreferably made in two sections, 14, the sections being identical in construction and designed to inclose the pinion 13 when the sections are associated. The sections are folded or otherwise suitably secured together, and between the adjacent ends of the respective sections of the bearing are shims 15; The shims are used to permit the bearing tobe taken up to compensate *for wear as the occasion re quires, it bein understood that for this purpose one of the shims is removed from between the sections 14. Each section 14: is interiorly. provided with a raised portion 16 having a substantially flat surface constituting a seat or rest for the squared intermediate portion 12 of the bar 11. The outer eX- tremity of each of the bearing sections 14 is reduced to engage the cylindrical portions of the bar for the proper support of the latter, and these extremities are threaded to accommodate the caps 18. The caps 18 carry a packing 19 which prevents the lubricant from working out through the ends of the bearing, and further serves as a brace for the sliding bar 11. One end of the sliding bar 11 is threaded as at 19 to accommo date a threaded cap 20, the latter being rovided with a ball 21 similar to the bal 22 carried by the tie rod 23, these balls being received in sockets 24 of a connecting link 25. This provides for a universal connec tion between the sliding bar 11 and the tie rod which connects the steering knuckles of the front wheels of a motor vehicle. Manifestly, the construction disclosed eliminates the use of the crank usually carried by the lower end of the steering rod, which crank usually tends to multiply the strain on the steering mechanism. For instance a crank of six inches in length and the driven gear being two inches in diameter, the driven gear would be subject to three times the amount of strain, that it would be subjected to in accordance with the construction herein disclosed. Should the wear in the gears be of an inch where a crank 6 inches in length is used with a two inch driven gear, a three sixteenths of an inch play would be resultant at the point of the tie rod.

By having the sliding bar of rectangular formation at its center and providing the sides of this'central portion with rack teeth, the bar may be adjusted to present for use anew rack surface to compensate for wear as the occasion demands.

While it is seen'from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent I desire to have it understood that what is herein shown and described is merely illustrative, and that I do not limit myself in this connection, inasmuch as such changes may be V resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is'claimed.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed as new is: r

' In a steering mechanism for vehicles, the combination with a steering rod and a tie rod, of a bearing, said bearing being of cylindrical formation in cross section, a

bar slidable in said bearing and having a squared intermediate portion provided with rack teeth, said bearings being interiorly provided with a raised substantially flat surface upon which the intermediate porends of the bearing, packing arranged in said caps, and a universal connection between said barand the tie rod.

In testimony'whereof I aflix my signature. 20

MARTIN OLIVER DAHLEN. 

